Topeak MTX Trunk Bag DXP

From Bike Pics

After having used the Topeak MTX Trunk Bag DXP for a week, I've been able to come to some conclusions about using it vs. using a backpack.

The bag holds everything I would normally carry to work, but it probably won't hold as much as I ˆcouldˆ put in my backpack (which is, admittedly, large). That said, I haven't quite found the limits of the trunk bag yet, so we'll have to see how things go. A typical load for me:

Work clothes. (Pants, t-shirt, socks, boxers, button-down shirt; I leave shoes and a belt at work)
Lunch. (Sandwich, fruit, chips)
Laptop. (15" MacBook Pro in a neoprene sleeve.)
U-lock (w/ cable) and tools.
Towel (Monday morning, Friday evening)

Clothes go in one pannier and the laptop in another. Lunch and tools in the trunk, and the U-Lock on top of the bag. The weight of all this stuff on the bike changes how the bike handles. It feels MUCH heavier on the back end. This is just something to get used to; I'm betting that this summer, when it's 100+ degrees, I'll be glad not to have all that weight on my BACK. I really only notice this when stopping and starting, and it has more to do with balance than anything else.

The bag does seem to be very durable. I've stuffed the panniers full and squeezed the zippers together to get them closed and the bag really didn't flinch. The expandable trunk is pretty helpful; I've already used it a couple of times. However, The bungees on top are not your friends. Use them with care; I already lost my cable lock that I had stored under the bungees. (I did find the lock... after I bought a new one.)

Another thing I didn't expect was that the bag does slow me down a bit when getting on and off the bike. This surprised me, as I got this bag because of the MTX system. Slide the bag onto the rack 'til it clicks and away you go. This is true if you are just using the trunk. If you are using the side panniers, you also should secure the bottom of the panniers to the rack using the built-in bungee. This seems trivial, but is another step you have to perform (twice) when you arrive at your destination. Again, not a biggie, but you also aren't just locking your bike and walking away, as you would with a backpack.

From Bike Pics

From Bike Pics

The only thing I do not like about the DXP is the included shoulder strap. It just isn't long enough. Even fully extended, the bag hangs well above my waist. (And I'm not a tall guy.) So I switched it out for the strap from a satchel that I had been using for my laptop. This is more comfortable, especially when the panniers are full.

The reflective stripes on the bag work well; combined with the reflective side-walls on my tires, it would be hard not to notice me even without the lights I use. I'm using the brake light mount on the bag, rather than the rack, as the bag always goes with me.

All-in-all, I'm pretty happy with the DXP. It does what I need it to do, and seems to handle it well, despite the quirks I've mentioned.